Esports World Cup 2025 Draws 750 Million Viewers

Saudi Arabia's hometown heroes Team Falcons captured the Esports World Cup 2025 Club Championship trophy and its $7 million grand prize after a seven-week competition that concluded Sunday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented the trophy to Team Falcons CEO Musaad AlDossar during a closing ceremony that capped a festival demonstrating the Kingdom's growing ambitions in the global gaming industry.

The victory marked the culmination of an event that posted significant growth in its second year, with organizers reporting 750 million viewers globally and 350 million total viewing hours. The tournament's $70 million prize pool represented the largest in esports history, according to event officials.

Riyadh drew 3 million visitors during the competition, up from 2.6 million in 2024, with an estimated 300,000 international tourists marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year. The production encompassed over 7,000 hours of live content broadcast across 97 partners in 35 languages.

The scale reflects Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to diversify its economy through entertainment and gaming. The Kingdom aims to add over 50 billion Saudi riyals ($13.3 billion) to gross domestic product through gaming initiatives by 2030, part of its Vision 2030 economic transformation plan.

Record Viewership Signals Industry Growth

The tournament attracted more than 2,000 players from 200 clubs across 100 countries competing in 25 different games. Peak viewership reached 7.98 million concurrent viewers during Gen.G Esports' victory in the League of Legends tournament, demonstrating the event's global reach.

Team Falcons secured their championship through consistent performance across multiple titles, accumulating 5,200 points. The Saudi-based organization achieved top-three finishes in Dota 2, Chess, PUBG Battlegrounds, Rocket League and Counter-Strike, while claiming victory in Overwatch 2.

The competition remained tight through the final week. Team Liquid finished second with 4,200 points, followed by Team Vitality at 4,050 points. Twisted Minds and Virtus.pro tied for fourth place with 3,200 points each.

The tournament featured notable performances from established stars and emerging talent. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen competed on the esports stage, while 15-year-old Rasyah "Rasyah" Rasyid became the youngest MVP in the event's history. Joona "Serral" Sotala dominated StarCraft II competition, and Manuel "ManuBachoore" Bachoore made history as the first two-time EA FC world champion.

Celebrity appearances included Tony Hawk, Formula One driver Lando Norris, former soccer players Gerard Piqué, Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká, and video game designer Hideo Kojima. Musical performances from Post Malone and DINO of SEVENTEEN highlighted the opening ceremony.

"The Esports World Cup has once again showcased the transformative impact of esports and the pivotal role this industry now plays in cultures and societies across the globe," said Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said the tournament has evolved beyond its initial concept. "After just two years, the Esports World Cup is no longer a bold idea; it's the foundation of a global sport," he said, emphasizing the event's focus on sustainable growth and industry impact.

The Esports World Cup will return to Riyadh for its third edition from July 6 to August 23, 2026, as Saudi Arabia continues positioning itself as a major player in the global gaming and entertainment sectors.